BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

burnt child dreads the fire.: translation

A burnt child dreads the fire.

Prov. If something has hurt you once, you avoid it after that. (See also once bitten, twice shy.) •

Jill: Let's go ride the roller coaster! Jane: No, thanks. I got sick on one of those once, and a burnt child dreads the fire.

•

Ever since Cynthia rebuffed me so rudely, I've avoided asking her for anything; a burnt child dreads the fire.